Chinese University Students' Loneliness and Generalized Pathological Internet Use: A Longitudinal Cross-Lagged Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 861-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Jia ◽  
Yingying Wang ◽  
Yujuan Yang ◽  
Lijun Yang

We examined the reciprocal relationship between loneliness and generalized pathological Internet use (GPIU) with a sample of 361 (141 men and 220 women, Mage = 18.47 years) university freshmen in China. A fully cross-lagged panel design was used, in which loneliness and GPIU were assessed at 3 time points. The results were as follows: (a) GPIU had a higher level of stability than did loneliness, and (b) the relationship between loneliness and GPIU was dynamic and bidirectional. Specifically, loneliness positively predicted GPIU across time, GPIU at Time 2 (3 months after initial measurement) positively predicted loneliness at Time 3 (6 months after initial measurement), and the link between baseline loneliness and Time 3 loneliness was mediated by increased GPIU at Time 2. Our findings have implications for the treatment and prevention of GPIU in university freshmen.

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 1057-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Ni ◽  
Yuyan Qian ◽  
Yuping Wang

High rates and serious negative consequences of pathological Internet use (PIU) have been reported among young adults; thus, we aimed to identify the impacts of demographic, socioenvironmental, and psychological factors on PIU in this population. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 501 Chinese university students, who completed Young's Internet Addiction Test, the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and the Coping Style Questionnaire. Results showed that age, gender, father's refusal or denying, and father's overprotectiveness had positive impacts on PIU, whereas the rural/urban nature of the area in which participants grew up and mother's emotional warmth and understanding had negative impacts on PIU. Further, greater psychoticism and use of the avoidant coping style were related to higher PIU, whereas greater use of the self-blaming coping style was associated with lower PIU. These factors should be considered when developing interventions aimed at decreasing PIU.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Lu ◽  
ShengYan Jian ◽  
Min Dong ◽  
Jie Gao ◽  
TianTian Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims The factors associated with suicidal ideation among adolescents have been extensively characterised, but the mechanisms underlying the complexities of the relationship between experiences of childhood trauma and suicidal ideation have been less studied. This study examined the direct effect of childhood trauma on suicidal ideation on the one hand and whether school bullying victimisation and Internet addiction mediate the association between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation on the other hand. Methods This school-based mental health survey was carried out in Qinghai Province in Northwest China in December 2019. We employed standardised questionnaires to collect sociodemographic and target mental health outcomes. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression and structural equation modelling were performed for the data analyses. Results This study included 5864 university students. The prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation and Internet addiction were 34.7% and 21.4%, respectively. Overall, 16.4% and 11.4% of participants reported experiences of childhood trauma and school bullying victimisation, respectively. There were direct effects of childhood trauma, school bullying victimisation and Internet addiction on suicidal ideation. The total effect of childhood trauma on suicidal ideation was 0.201 (p < 0.001). School bullying victimisation and Internet addiction mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation. Internet addiction played a mediating role between school bullying and suicidal ideation. Conclusions Childhood trauma had both direct and indirect effects on suicidal ideation; these effects were mediated by school bullying victimisation and Internet addiction in Chinese university students. Elucidating these relationships will therefore be useful in developing and implementing more targeted interventions and strategies to improve the mental well-being of Chinese university students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Chao Zhou ◽  
Hong Li ◽  
Yulong Bian

We explored the association between online and subsequent offline altruistic behavior in shy and not-shy individuals, using a 2 (priming condition: online altruism vs. control) × 2 (shyness level: shy vs. not shy) between-subjects design with 108 Chinese university students. We designed 6 online situations to prime altruism and a volunteer situation to assess subsequent offline altruism. Results were as follows: (a) engaging in online altruistic behavior was significantly associated with subsequently undertaking altruistic behavior offline; (b) shyness was not significantly associated with online altruism, but was significantly associated with subsequent altruistic behavior offline; and (c) shyness level moderated the association between online altruism and subsequent offline altruism. Engaging in online altruistic behavior had a stronger association with subsequent offline altruism among shy (vs. not-shy) participants. These findings clarify the relationship between online and offline altruistic behavior, and may help shy people overcome behavior inhibition in offline altruism contexts.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document